Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 2,958

2 members and 2,956 guests
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,031
Threads: 248,490
Posts: 2,568,448
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, isismomma
Results 1 to 8 of 8
  1. #1
    BPnet Veteran
    Join Date
    03-28-2010
    Location
    North East Ohio
    Posts
    227
    Thanks
    15
    Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts

    How to remove Hardwater stains?

    Any advice on how to remove year old hard water stains? I got the tank free and so I can't really complain but there are some hard water stains that just don't want to come out. I have tried Vinegar, I have tried Lemon, Lime, small little section of CLR, Lime Away. I have scrubbed, scraped with a razor and still nothing... Any other suggestions? It's all around the top. Here are some pictures it's kind of hard to see cuz I suck at taking pictures but any advice will help.




  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    06-11-2011
    Posts
    55
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 13 Times in 9 Posts
    I've tried all that too, at some point it ends up atching into the glass and all you can really do is resurface it
    2.2 crestie; 2.1 beardie; 1.0 tokay; 1.1leos; 0.0.1BTS; 0.0.7 hermit crabs; 1.0 pacman; 1.2 FBT; 1.0 PTF; 0.0.1 BP; 1.0 rat; 0.2 cat; 0.1 garg; 1.0 dwarf pyxie; 0.2 ornate wood turts; 2.1 kenyan sand boas; 0.1 temperate armidillo lizard; 0.1 BCI; 2.1 humans; 0.2 PITA cats; 1.1 anery corns; 0.1 Albino Corn; 0.0.1 Asin Toad; 0.0.4 Whites Tree Frogs; 2.0 Mali Uromastyx; 0.0.1 Schneider's Skink; 1.6 Green Tree Frogs; 1.0 giant Pyxie; 1.0 Chinese Water Dragon; 1.0 Mountian Horned Dragon; couple thousand raoches; few thousand mealies

  3. #3
    BPnet Veteran
    Join Date
    03-28-2010
    Location
    North East Ohio
    Posts
    227
    Thanks
    15
    Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts
    And how would I go about doing that? Long hard process? Easy? Easy to mess up and ruin the tank? If it's a possibility of ruining the tank I think I'd rather just set it up as is and just deal with the stains.

  4. #4
    BPnet Veteran Scaleyz's Avatar
    Join Date
    11-10-2010
    Location
    Hollywood, Florida
    Posts
    253
    Thanks
    59
    Thanked 21 Times in 20 Posts
    Images: 27

    Re: How to remove Hardwater stains?

    Quote Originally Posted by azmodane View Post
    Any advice on how to remove year old hard water stains? I got the tank free and so I can't really complain but there are some hard water stains that just don't want to come out. I have tried Vinegar, I have tried Lemon, Lime, small little section of CLR, Lime Away. I have scrubbed, scraped with a razor and still nothing... Any other suggestions? It's all around the top. Here are some pictures it's kind of hard to see cuz I suck at taking pictures but any advice will help.



    Have you tried making a paste with baking soda, I use that on my tanks that I have gotten from friends with those really bad hard water stains and the stains come off most of the time. If not I use simple green. Good luck!!!

  5. #5
    Reptiles EVERYWHERE! Foschi Exotic Serpents's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-17-2009
    Location
    Joliet, IL.
    Posts
    5,170
    Thanks
    2,039
    Thanked 1,993 Times in 1,292 Posts
    Images: 64
    Pick up a bottle of this by the dishwasher detergent and dish soap. It has a wax seal in the top because it's meant to melt out in the dishwasher. I use this to soak my water valves for my rat tubs. It's safe for plastics and rubber gaskets and is not harsh like lyme away. Works better too I think.

    Lay the tank on it's side out side or in the tub. You'll be doing one side at a time. Use something to make a good hole in the wax seal and squirt enough out to put a very thin layer over the glass. Let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. Test a section with a sponge or rag and the Lyme should come right off. If not, squirt a bit more on and wait a little longer.

    It will depend on how thick the Lyme is and how long it's been there. If the tank is huge and you need to use a lot, mix it 1/4 hot water to dishwasher magic to coat the glass.

    Once one side is done, turn the tank over and do the other side. This stuff will not eat away the caulk sealant so it is completely safe to let it sit on it like this. It will not scratch or pit the glass. Lyme away does all this bad stuff. I learned this the hard way when I used Lyme away in my dishwasher one too many times and it destroyed a bearing in the motor and I had to buy a new one.

    Last edited by Foschi Exotic Serpents; 11-10-2011 at 01:22 AM.

  6. #6
    BPnet Veteran devildog_dk's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-27-2011
    Location
    AZ
    Posts
    298
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked 87 Times in 71 Posts
    I used CLR and a very soft abrasive pad once when I bought a used aquarium, took a while but worked well.

    I use regular 409 and a scotch brite pad to remove them from the hoods on my current aquarium and it comes off nicely, but as with any chemical make sure you triple rinse until you're sure there's no residue.

  7. #7
    BPnet Veteran
    Join Date
    03-28-2010
    Location
    North East Ohio
    Posts
    227
    Thanks
    15
    Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts
    So I tried all of those, along with Muriatic acid. I've come to the conclusion that the glass is etched. It's visible when filled up but it's not terrible. Debating on using it or not.

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-05-2012
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    I got rid of mine with a scrubbing pad from the dollar store and some vinegar, its inert and wont hurt the fish, just dont pour it in the tank just a small bowl and the scrubber is all you need. Personally I drained the tank down to do this when I sold all my guppies off(had tons of fry hiding in the tank still after drain down).
    I read vinegar works well too, but I have not tried it out yet. marine fish tank

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1